Automated energy transfer calculation and compensation

ABSTRACT

Thermal energy transfer between the adjoining building units is measured. Actual energy consumption is measured in each of the adjoining building units. An energy compensation is calculated for each of the adjoining building units based upon the measured thermal energy transfer between the adjoining building units and the measured actual energy consumption in each of the adjoining building units. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to systems and methods for determiningenergy transfer between units within the same building. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to automated energy transfercalculation and compensation.

2. Related Art

Apartment and office building structures are often constructed withmultiple floors such that units are stacked vertically within thestructure. Insulation is placed between the floors and on exterior wallsto limit sound and heat transfer. During summer months, air conditionersare used to cool the units within the structures. During winter months,heaters are used to heat the units within the structures.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter described herein provides automated energy transfercalculation and compensation. The automated energy transfer calculationand compensation applies to thermally connected structures, such asapartment units, condominiums, and other building units with a partitionconstructed between adjoining units. A wall and a floor/ceilingcombination represent example partitions. For example,vertically-oriented building units are considered thermally connectedwhen rising heat may pass from a lower building unit to an upperbuilding unit through a ceiling/floor partition in winter and converselywith respect to cool air in summer. Actual energy consumption ismeasured in each adjoining building unit and thermal energy transfer ismeasured between the adjoining building units. An energy compensation iscalculated for each of the adjoining building units based upon themeasured thermal energy transfer and to the measured actual energyconsumption in each of the adjoining building units. The energycompensation is used to adjust energy charges for building units thatexperience thermal energy transfer to or from an adjoining buildingunit. The calculated energy compensation may be further adjusted basedupon expected energy consumption, insulation materials and ratings, ageof the adjoining building units, and other factors.

A method includes measuring thermal energy transfer between theadjoining building units; measuring actual energy consumption in each ofthe adjoining building units; and calculating an energy compensation foreach of the adjoining building units based upon the measured thermalenergy transfer between the adjoining building units and the measuredactual energy consumption in each of the adjoining building units.

A system includes a memory adapted to store information associated withenergy consumption; and a processor programmed to measure thermal energytransfer between the adjoining building units, measure actual energyconsumption in each of the adjoining building units, and calculate anenergy compensation for each of the adjoining building units based uponthe measured thermal energy transfer between the adjoining buildingunits and the measured actual energy consumption in each of theadjoining building units.

An alternative system includes a memory adapted to store informationassociated with energy consumption; and a processor programmed tomeasure at least two temperature values of at least two positions withina partition between the adjoining building units, the at least twopositions located at different distances from a surface of the partitionwithin at least one of the adjoining building units, process the atleast two temperature values using at least one of a linear equation, apolynomial equation, and a gradient equation, extrapolate a thermalenergy transfer from the processed at least two temperature values,measure actual energy consumption in each of the adjoining buildingunits, calculate an energy compensation for each of the adjoiningbuilding units based upon the measured thermal energy transfer betweenthe adjoining building units and the measured actual energy consumptionin each of the adjoining building units, where in being adapted tocalculate the energy compensation for each of the adjoining buildingunits, the processor is further programmed to: determine an expectedenergy consumption for each of the adjoining building units based uponat least one of a volume of each of the adjoining building units,historical thermostat setting information for each of the adjoiningbuilding units, historical energy consumption for each of the adjoiningbuilding units, and historical environmental temperature data in an areaof the adjoining building units, calculate a difference in the measuredactual energy consumption for each of the adjoining building unitsrelative to the expected energy consumption for each of the adjoiningbuilding units, and adjust the calculated energy compensation based uponthe calculated difference, and send the adjusted calculated energycompensation for each of the adjoining building units to a utilityserver for billing adjustment.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the presentinvention and realize additional aspects thereof after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments inassociation with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part ofthis specification illustrate several aspects of the invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of an implementation of a systemfor automated energy transfer calculation and compensation according toan embodiment of the present subject matter;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of an example of an implementation of abuilding unit environment suitable for use of components of a system forautomated energy transfer calculation and compensation according to anembodiment of the present subject matter;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of an implementation of the costsharing calculation device that is capable of performing automatedenergy transfer calculation and compensation based upon measured thermalenergy transfer between adjoining building units and measured actualenergy consumption in each of the adjoining building units according toan embodiment of the present subject matter;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example of an implementation of process forperforming automated energy transfer calculation and compensation basedupon measured thermal energy transfer between adjoining building unitsand measured actual energy consumption in each of the adjoining buildingunits according to an embodiment of the present subject matter;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an example of an implementation of process forperforming automated energy transfer calculation and compensation basedupon measured thermal energy transfer between adjoining building units,measured actual energy consumption in each of the adjoining buildingunits, expected energy consumption for the adjoining building units, andunit size and insulation information according to an embodiment of thepresent subject matter; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an example of an implementation of process forperforming automated energy transfer calculation and compensation basedupon measured thermal energy transfer between adjoining building units,measured actual energy consumption in each of the adjoining buildingunits, de-rated insulation ratings based upon materials and age ofinsulation, and expected energy consumption in each of the adjoiningbuilding units according to an embodiment of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The examples set forth below represent the necessary information toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and illustratethe best mode of practicing the invention. Upon reading the followingdescription in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilledin the art will understand the concepts of the invention and willrecognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressedherein. It should be understood that these concepts and applicationsfall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.

The subject matter described herein provides automated energy transfercalculation and compensation. The automated energy transfer calculationand compensation applies to thermally connected structures, such asapartment units, condominiums, and other building units with a partitionconstructed between adjoining units. A wall and a floor/ceilingcombination represent example partitions. For example,vertically-oriented building units are considered thermally connectedwhen rising heat may pass from a lower building unit to an upperbuilding unit through a ceiling/floor partition in winter and converselywith respect to cool air in summer. Actual energy consumption ismeasured in each adjoining building unit and thermal energy transfer ismeasured between the adjoining building units. An energy compensation iscalculated for each of the adjoining building units based upon themeasured thermal energy transfer and to the measured actual energyconsumption in each of the adjoining building units. The energycompensation is used to adjust energy charges for building units thatexperience thermal energy transfer to or from an adjoining buildingunit. The calculated energy compensation may be further adjusted basedupon expected energy consumption, insulation materials and ratings, ageof the adjoining building units, and other factors.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of an implementation of a system100 for automated energy transfer calculation and compensation. Withinthe system 100, a cost sharing calculation device 102 is illustrated. Aswill be described in more detail below and in association with FIGS. 2through 6, the cost sharing calculation device 102 provides automatedenergy transfer calculation and compensation based upon measured thermaltransfer between adjoining building units and measured actual energyconsumption for the adjoining building units. FIG. 2 below illustrates across section of an example building unit environment suitable for useof components of the system 100 for automated energy transfercalculation and compensation.

It should be noted that the cost sharing calculation device 102 may be aportable computing device, such as used by utility meter readertraveling to collect utility meter readings from differentbuildings/building units. The cost sharing calculation device 102 mayalso be a stationary computing device located in association with abuilding unit or may be a stationary computing device associated with autility billing system. It should also be noted that the cost sharingcalculation device 102 may be any computing device capable of processinginformation as described above and in more detail below. For example,the cost sharing calculation device 102 may include devices such as apersonal computer (e.g., desktop, laptop, palm, etc.) or a handhelddevice (e.g., cellular telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA),email device, music recording or playback device, etc.), or any otherdevice capable of processing information as associated with the presentsubject matter.

The cost sharing calculation device 102 is shown interconnected via anetwork 104 to one or more heating ventilation and air conditioning(HVAC) units 106, one or more energy usage measurement devices 108, oneor more energy transfer measurement devices 110, and a utility server112. The network 104 includes any form of interconnection suitable forthe intended purpose, including a private or public network such as anintranet or the Internet, respectively, direct inter-moduleinterconnection, dial-up, or any other interconnection mechanism capableof interconnecting the devices.

The HVAC units 106 may include heat pump units, air conditioning andfurnace units, or any other heating, ventilation, and air conditioningunits, whether powered by natural gas, propane, electricity, or otherenergy source. The energy usage measurement devices 108 includethermostats, thermometers, electric power meters, natural gas meters,propane meters, or any other energy measurement device capable ofproviding energy usage information usable by the cost sharingcalculation device 102 for the information processing described herein.

The energy transfer measurement devices 110 include sensors or pairs ofsensors, thermometers (e.g., electronic thermometers), thermal gradientsensors, or any other sensor or pairs of sensors, as appropriate, thatare capable of providing thermal measurements at different physicalpoints within a partition between adjoining building units. As describedabove, a partition includes a wall and/or ceiling/floor partitionbetween adjoining building units. As such, the energy transfermeasurement device 110 includes any device capable of measuring thermalenergy transfer across a partition between adjoining building unitsrelative to a temperature or thermal characteristic in any one of theadjoining building units.

The utility server 112 includes a web-based server, dial-up server, orother computing device with communication and information capabilitiesassociated with an energy utility. The utility server 112 provides acommunication interface for the cost sharing calculation device 102 forutility billing adjustment or other information sharing associated withthe cost sharing calculation device 102.

A database 114 is associated with the cost sharing calculation device102 and provides storage capabilities for information associated withthe automated energy transfer calculation and compensation performed bythe cost sharing calculation device 102. The database 114 includes anexpected energy usage storage area 116, a usage history storage area118, and a thermal information storage area 120. Information within theexpected energy usage storage area 116, the usage history storage area118, and the thermal information storage area 120 may be stored in theform of tables or other arrangements accessible by the cost sharingcalculation device 102.

The expected energy usage storage area 116 includes expected energyusage information associated with adjoining building units. The expectedenergy usage information may include information derived or calculatedfrom information, such as volume of each of adjoining building unit, orother information described below to determine expected energy usage foradjoining building units.

The usage history storage area 118 includes energy usage historyinformation either stored over time by the cost sharing calculationdevice 102 or received from the utility server 112 for processingpurposes. The energy usage history information includes information,such as historical thermostat setting information for each of theadjoining building units and historical energy consumption for each ofthe adjoining building units. The energy usage history information maybe used by the cost sharing calculation device 102 to determine expectedenergy consumption for each of the adjoining building units.

The thermal information storage area 120 includes thermal informationassociated with thermal characteristics of the adjoining building unitsor the environment within which the adjoining building units arelocated. The thermal information includes information, such ashistorical environmental temperature data for a geographic area withinwhich the adjoining building units are located and thermal propertiesfor building materials (e.g., insulation type, insulation rating, age,etc.). The thermal information may be used by the cost sharingcalculation device 102 to further determine the expected energyconsumption for each of the adjoining building units.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of an example of an implementation of abuilding unit environment suitable for use of components of the system100 for automated energy transfer calculation and compensation. Thoughcomponents of the system 100 are shown in certain locations within theexample of FIG. 2, it is understood that the example locations are notlimiting and that placement of the components shown may be variedwithout departure from the scope of the present subject matter.Additionally, several of the components may be located at any locationthat provides interconnection capabilities as described above, includinginterconnection via wireless communication.

Within FIG. 2, a building structure 200 is illustrated with a lower leftbuilding unit 202, an upper left building unit 204, a lower rightbuilding unit 206, and an upper right building unit 208. For purposes ofthe present description, each of the building units 202 through 208 maybe considered adjoining if they share a partition, such as a wall orceiling/floor combination partition, that allows thermal energy transferbetween the respective building units.

For example, the partition wall section 210 represents a partitionseparating the upper left building unit 204 from the upper rightbuilding unit 208. The partition wall section 210 also represents apartition separating the lower left building unit 202 from the lowerright building unit 206. Accordingly, the upper left building unit 204and the upper right building unit 208 are considered adjoining buildingunits. Additionally, the lower left building unit 202 and the lowerright building unit 206 are also considered adjoining building units.

Additionally, ceiling/floor partitions 212 and 214 separate the lowerleft building unit 202 from the upper left building unit 204 and thelower right building unit 206 from the upper right building unit 208,respectively. Accordingly, the lower left building unit 202 and theupper left building unit 204 are considered adjoining building units.Additionally, the lower right building unit 206 and the upper rightbuilding unit 208 are considered adjoining building units.

As described above, any building units in relation to one another thatallows thermal energy transfer between the respective building units maybe considered adjoining units. As such, the lower left building unit 202and the upper right building unit 208 and the lower right building unit206 and the upper left building unit 204 may also be consideredadjoining building units for purposes of the present subject matter.

The cost sharing calculation device 102 is shown at an example locationwithin the partition wall 210 between the upper left building unit 204and the upper right building unit 208. The network 104 is notillustrated within FIG. 2 for ease of illustration purposes. However, itis understood that the network 104 interconnects the respective devicesas described above in association with FIG. 1. One HVAC unit 106 isillustrated mounted on top of the building structure 200. It isunderstood that more than one HVAC unit 106 may be used.

Four energy usage measurement devices 108 are illustrated in associationwith each of the building units 202 through 208 in example locations. Asdescribed above, the energy usage measurement devices 108 may includethermostats, thermometers, electric power meters, natural gas meters,propane meters, or any other energy measurement device capable ofproviding energy usage information usable by the cost sharingcalculation device 102. Further, when the energy usage measurementdevices 108 are embodied as electric power meters, natural gas meters,or propane meters they may be located on an outside portion of thebuilding structure 200, or if networked to the utility server 112 (shownin FIG. 2) they may be located at any location in association with therespective building units. Further, based upon communicationcapabilities, the energy usage measurement devices 108 may be located inassociation with the utility server 112 without departure from the scopeof the present subject matter.

Four energy transfer measurement devices 110 are illustrated at examplelocations within the building structure 200. The energy transfermeasurement devices 110 measure thermal energy transfer 216 between theadjoining building units. For example, in winter when the HVAC unit 106produces warm air, the thermal energy transfer 216 may attempt to risefrom the lower left building unit 202 to the upper left building unit204 and from the lower right building unit 206 to the upper rightbuilding unit 208. The converse may occur in summer when the HVAC unit106 produces cold air. Additionally, the thermal energy 216 may alsoattempt to transfer across the partition wall section 210 in eitherdirection between the lower left building unit 202 and the lower rightbuilding unit 206 and between the upper left building unit 204 and theupper right building unit 208. It is also possible for the thermalenergy to attempt to transfer across the partition wall section 210 (notshown) from any of the lower building units 202 and 206 to the upperbuilding units 208 and 204, respectively, or vice versa depending uponthe operating mode of the HVAC unit 106, insulation properties of therespective partitions, and environmental conditions.

Accordingly, FIG. 2 represents a cross section of an exampleimplementation of the building structure 200 suitable for use ofcomponents of the system 100 for automated energy transfer calculationand compensation. Many other orientations of the respective componentsare possible and all are considered within the scope of the presentsubject matter.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of an implementation of the costsharing calculation device 102 that is capable of performing automatedenergy transfer calculation and compensation based upon measured thermalenergy transfer between adjoining building units and measured actualenergy consumption in each of the adjoining building units. A centralprocessing unit (CPU) 300 provides computer instruction execution,computation, and other capabilities within the cost sharing calculationdevice 102. A display 302 provides visual information to a user of thecost sharing calculation device 102 and an input device 304 providesinput capabilities for the user.

The display 302 may include any display device, such as a cathode raytube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED),projection, touchscreen, or other display element or panel. The inputdevice 304 may include a computer keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a pen, ajoystick, or any other type of input device by which the user mayinteract with and respond to information on the display 302.

It should be noted that the display 302 and the input device 304 areillustrated with a dashed-line representation within FIG. 3 to indicatethat they are not required components for the cost sharing calculationdevice 102. Accordingly, the cost sharing calculation device 102 mayoperate as a completely automated embedded device, client-based device,or server-based device without user configurability or feedback.However, the cost sharing calculation device 102 may also provide userfeedback and configurability via the display 302 and the input device304, respectively.

A communication module 306 provides interconnection capabilities thatallow the cost sharing calculation device 102 to communicate with othermodules within the system 100. For example, the cost sharing calculationdevice 102 may communicate via the communication module 306 with the oneor more HVAC units 106, the one or more energy usage measurement devices108, and the one or more energy transfer measurement devices 110, toreceive and process thermal energy consumption and transfer information.The cost sharing calculation device 102 may communicate via thecommunication module 306 with the utility server 112 to provide energycompensation information, such as energy compensation values orparameters, for billing adjustment purposes.

The communication module 306 may include any electrical, protocol, andprotocol conversion capabilities useable to provide the interconnectioncapabilities. Though the communication module 306 is illustrated as acomponent-level module for ease of illustration and descriptionpurposes, it should be noted that the communication module 306 includesany hardware, programmed processor(s), and memory used to carry out thefunctions of the communication module 306 as described above and in moredetail below. For example, the communication module 306 may includeadditional controller circuitry in the form of application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), processors, antennas, and/or discreteintegrated circuits and components for performing communication andelectrical control activities associated with the communication module306. Additionally, the communication module 306 also includesinterrupt-level, stack-level, and application-level modules asappropriate. Furthermore, the communication module 306 includes anymemory components used for storage, execution, and data processing forperforming processing activities associated with the communicationmodule 306. The communication module 306 may also form a portion ofother circuitry described without departure from the scope of thepresent subject matter.

A memory 308 includes a cost sharing application 310. The cost sharingapplication 310 provides automated energy transfer calculation andcompensation for the cost sharing calculation device 102, as describedabove and in more detail below. The cost sharing application 310includes instructions executable by the CPU 300 for performing thesefunctions. The CPU 300 executes these instructions to provide theprocessing capabilities described above and in more detail below forcost sharing calculation device 102.

The cost sharing application 310 may form a portion of an interruptservice routine (ISR), a portion of an operating system, a portion of abrowser application, or a portion of a separate application withoutdeparture from the scope of the present subject matter. The cost sharingapplication 310 may also process information stored within the database114, as described above, for the automated energy transfer calculationand compensation of a computing device, such as the cost sharingcalculation device 102.

It should be noted that while the cost sharing application 310 isillustrated within the memory 308, the cost sharing application 310 maybe implemented as a stand-alone hardware or combined module withoutdeparture from the scope of the present subject matter. In such animplementation, the cost sharing application 310 includes any hardware,programmed processor(s), and memory used to carry out the functions ofthe cost sharing application 310 as described above and in more detailbelow. For example, the cost sharing application 310 may includeadditional controller circuitry in the form of application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), processors, antennas, and/or discreteintegrated circuits and components for performing communication andelectrical control activities associated with the cost sharingapplication 310. Additionally, the cost sharing application 310 alsoincludes interrupt-level, stack-level, and application-level modules asappropriate. Furthermore, the cost sharing application 310 includes anymemory components used for storage, execution, and data processing forperforming processing activities associated with the cost sharingapplication 310. The cost sharing application 310 may also form aportion of other circuitry described without departure from the scope ofthe present subject matter.

It is understood that the memory 308 may include any combination ofvolatile and non-volatile memory suitable for the intended purpose,distributed or localized as appropriate, and may include other memorysegments not illustrated within the present example for ease ofillustration purposes. For example, the memory 308 may include a codestorage area, a code execution area, and a data area without departurefrom the scope of the present subject matter.

The CPU 300, the display 302, the input device 304, the communicationmodule 306, the memory 308, and the database 114 are interconnected viaan interconnection 312. The interconnection 312 may include a systembus, a network, or any other interconnection capable of providing therespective components with suitable interconnection for the respectivepurpose.

It should be noted that the components within the cost sharingcalculation device 102 may be co-located or distributed andinterconnected via a network without departure from the scope of thepresent subject matter. For a distributed arrangement, the display 302and the input device 304 may be located at point of sale device, kiosk,or other location associated with the building structure 200, while theCPU 300 and memory 308 may be located at a local or remote server. Manyother possible arrangements for components of the cost sharingcalculation device 102 are possible and all are considered within thescope of the present subject matter. It should also be understood that,though the expected energy usage storage area 116, the usage historystorage area 118, and the thermal information storage area 120 are shownwithin the database 114, they may also be stored within the memory 308without departure from the scope of the present subject matter.

Accordingly, the cost sharing calculation device 102 may take many formsand may be associated with many platforms. FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6below describe example processes that may be executed by the costsharing calculation device 102 and/or the cost sharing application 310executed by the CPU 300 to perform the automated energy transfercalculation and compensation of the cost sharing calculation device 102.

FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 below illustrate example processing that maybe performed in association with the present subject matter and that maybe executed by a device, such as the CPU 300 of the cost sharingcalculation device 102. Alternatively, the processes described may beexecuted by separate processing components within or associated with thecost sharing calculation device 102, as described above and asappropriate. It should be noted that time out procedures and other errorcontrol procedures as well as certain query and response activities arenot illustrated within the example processes for ease of illustrationpurposes. However, it is understood that all such procedures andactivities are considered to be within the scope of the present subjectmatter.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example of an implementation of process 400for performing automated energy transfer calculation and compensationbased upon measured thermal energy transfer between adjoining buildingunits and measured actual energy consumption in each of the adjoiningbuilding units. At block 402, the process 400 measures thermal energytransfer between the adjoining building units. At block 404, the process400 measures actual energy consumption in each of the adjoining buildingunits. At block 406, the process 400 calculates an energy compensationfor each of the adjoining building units based upon the measured thermalenergy transfer between the adjoining building units and the measuredactual energy consumption in each of the adjoining building units.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an example of an implementation of process 500for performing automated energy transfer calculation and compensationbased upon measured thermal energy transfer between adjoining buildingunits, measured actual energy consumption in each of the adjoiningbuilding units, expected energy consumption for the adjoining buildingunits, and unit size and insulation information. At block 502, theprocess 500 determines expected energy consumption for adjoiningbuilding units. The expected energy consumption may be based upon any ofthe information described above, such as that stored within the database114 in the expected energy usage storage area 116, the usage historystorage area 118, and the thermal information storage area 120.

At block 504, the process 500 determines actual energy consumption forthe adjoining building units. This determination may be made byreceiving an energy consumption measurement from an energy usagemeasurement device, such as the energy usage measurement device 108 ormay be calculated based upon other measured information, including costper unit of the energy source (e.g., electricity, natural gas, orpropane).

At decision point 506, the process 500 determines whether a differenceexists between the expected energy consumption and the actual energyconsumption for at least one of the adjoining building units. When adetermination is made that there is not a difference between theexpected energy consumption and the actual energy consumption for atleast one of the adjoining building units, the process 500 returns toblock 502 to iterate as described above. When a determination is made atdecision point 506 that there is difference between the expected energyconsumption and the actual energy consumption for at least one of theadjoining building units, the process 500 measures thermal energytransfer between the adjoining building units at block 508. Thismeasurement includes measurements received from the one or more energytransfer measurement devices 110, as described above.

At block 510, the process 500 combines the thermal energy transferinformation and the energy consumption information described above withunit size and insulation information, such as that stored within thethermal information storage area 120, to adjust the energy consumptioninformation for unit size and insulation information. At decision point512, the process 500 makes a determination as to whether the adjustedenergy consumption exceeds expectations for at least one of theadjoining building units. When a determination is made that the adjustedenergy consumption does not exceed expectations for at least one of theadjoining building units, the process 500 returns to block 502 toiterate as described above.

When a determination is made at decision point 512 that the adjustedenergy consumption does exceed expectations for at least one of theadjoining building units, the process 500 performs an energy costcompensation at block 514. The energy cost compensation may include atleast one of adding the measured thermal energy transfer to the measuredactual energy consumption and subtracting the measured thermal energytransfer from the measured actual energy consumption for each of theadjoining building units. The energy cost compensation may also includeadjusting the determined actual energy consumption based upon thedetermined expected energy consumption for one or more of the adjoiningunits.

For example, with reference to FIG. 2 and assuming a winter climatecondition with the HVAC unit 106 producing heat, if the lower leftbuilding unit 202 has a larger than expected energy consumption and theupper left building unit 204 has a lower than expected energyconsumption due to thermal energy transfer from the lower left buildingunit 202 to the upper left building unit 204, the process 500 mayperform the energy cost compensation to adjust billing based upon thedetermined thermal energy transfer.

The energy cost compensation may include determining energy compensationinformation, such as an energy compensation value or an energycompensation parameter, to be used by a utility, such as the utilityserver 112, to adjust the differences in expectations with respect toenergy consumption of the building units. The energy compensation valuemay be based upon the measured thermal energy transfer between theadjoining building units, the respective unit sizes, insulationinformation for the adjoining building units, and age of the insulationmaterials/building units. This energy compensation value may besubtracted from the larger than expected energy consumption for thelower left building unit 202 and added to the lower than expected energyconsumption for the upper left building unit 204.

At block 516, the process 500 sends the energy cost compensationinformation to a utility, such as via the network 104 to the utilityserver 112. The process 500 returns to block 502 to iterate as describedabove.

As such, the process 500 performs automated energy transfer calculationand compensation. This automated energy transfer calculation andcompensation is based upon measured thermal energy transfer betweenadjoining building units, measured actual energy consumption in each ofthe adjoining building units, expected energy consumption for theadjoining building units, and unit size and insulation information.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an example of an implementation of process 600for performing automated energy transfer calculation and compensationbased upon measured thermal energy transfer between adjoining buildingunits, measured actual energy consumption in each of the adjoiningbuilding units, de-rated insulation ratings based upon materials and ageof insulation, and expected energy consumption in each of the adjoiningbuilding units. The process 600 waits at decision point 602 for anindication to perform energy compensation activities. This indicationmay be received from an external module or process, such as the utilityserver 112, may be based upon a periodic or scheduled arrangement, ormay be based upon a start-up or other activity associated with the costsharing calculation device 102.

When a determination is made at decision point 602 that an indication toperform energy compensation activities has occurred, at block 604 theprocess 600 measures temperature values within a partition, such as theceiling/floor partition 212 of FIG. 2, between the lower left buildingunit 202 and the upper left building unit 204. For example, the process600 may receive temperature measurements or a thermal energy transfermeasurement from the energy transfer measurement device 110.Additionally, the energy transfer measurement device 110 may beconfigured such that the process 600 measures at least two temperaturevalues of at least two positions within a partition between theadjoining building units. The at least two positions may be located atdifferent distances from a surface of the partition within at least oneof the adjoining building units, such as from a ceiling surface in thelower left building unit 202.

At block 606, the process 600 selects an equation for use in processingthe temperature values. The selected equation may be a linear equation,a polynomial equation, a gradient equation, or any other equationsuitable for the processing described. A person of skill in the art willbe able to select an appropriate equation based upon the presentdescription and material properties for the respective partition.

At block 608, the process 600 processes the temperature values using theselected equation. At block 610, the process 600 determines a thermalenergy transfer from the processed temperature values. For example,using a linear equation, extrapolation may be used to determine athermal energy transfer through the respective partition. Curve fittingof the polynomial equation and solving the gradient equation for athermal energy transfer are also considered within the scope of thepresent subject matter, as is any other approach to determining thethermal energy transfer.

At block 612, the process 600 receives actual energy consumptioninformation for each of the adjoining building units from an energymeasurement device, such as the energy usage measurement devices 108. Atblock 614, the process 600 calculates an initial energy compensationvalue based upon the determined thermal energy transfer. As describedabove, the calculation of the initial energy compensation may includeadding the measured thermal energy transfer to the measured actualenergy consumption and/or subtracting the measured thermal energytransfer from the measured actual energy consumption for each of theadjoining building units. Many other possibilities exist for calculatingthe initial energy compensation and all are considered within the scopeof the present subject matter.

At decision point 616, the process 600 makes a determination as towhether to de-rate the initial energy compensation value based uponinsulation properties for at least one of the adjoining building units.This determination may be based upon configuration information or othercriteria without departure from the scope of the present subject matter.When a determination is made at decision point 616 not to de-rate theinitial energy compensation value based upon insulation properties forat least one of the adjoining building units, the process 600 makes adetermination at decision point 618 as to whether to adjust the initialenergy compensation (or a de-rated energy compensation as described inmore detail below) based upon expected energy consumption. When adetermination is made at decision point 618 not to adjust the initialenergy compensation based upon expected energy consumption, the process600 sends the initial energy compensation to a utility server, such asthe utility server 112, at block 620 and returns to decision point 602to await another indication to perform energy compensation activities.

Returning to the description of decision point 616, when a determinationis made to de-rate the initial energy compensation value based uponinsulation properties for at least one of the adjoining building units,the process 600 determines material properties of a partition thatseparates the adjoining building units at block 622. For example, theprocess 600 may read insulation material construction and otherinformation from the thermal information storage area 120 in thedatabase 114.

At block 624, the process 600 determines an initial insulation ratingfor the partition. Again, the process 600 may determine this informationfrom information stored within the thermal information storage area 120in the database 114. At block 626, the process 600 adjusts thedetermined initial energy compensation for age of the partition basedupon the determined material properties and determined insulation ratingto form a de-rated energy compensation for the adjoining building units.

For example, older buildings may have insulation materials that degradeover time and loose insulation capabilities. In such a situation, theprocess 600 adjusts the initial energy compensation for the age of thepartition based upon the determined material properties for theinsulation to form the de-rated energy compensation. The process 600transitions to decision point 618 to continue processing as describedabove and in more detail below.

Returning to the description of decision point 618, when the process 600makes a determination not to adjust the initial energy compensation orthe de-rated energy compensation for expected energy consumption, theprocess 600 sends the calculated energy consumption to the utilityserver at block 620 as described above and returns to decision point 602to await another indication to perform energy compensation activities.When a determination is made at decision point 618 to adjust the initialenergy compensation or the de-rated energy compensation for expectedenergy consumption, the process 600 determines expected energyconsumption at block 628. For example, the process 600 may read expectedenergy consumption values for the adjoining building units from theexpected energy usage storage area 116 within the database 114 or mayreceive the expected energy consumption for the adjoining building unitsfrom the utility server 112. The determination of expected energyconsumption may further include determining at least one of a volume ofeach of the adjacent building units, historical thermostat settinginformation for each of the adjacent building units, historical energyconsumption for each of the adjacent building units, and historicalenvironmental temperature data in an area of the adjacent buildingunits. Many other possibilities exist for determining expected energyconsumption of adjoining building units and all are considered withinthe scope of the present subject matter.

At block 630, the process 600 compares the actual energy consumptionwith the expected energy consumption for each of the adjoining buildingunits. At block 632, the process 600 calculates a difference between theactual energy consumption and the expected energy consumption for eachof the adjoining building units. At block 634, the process 600 adjustseither the initial energy compensation or the de-rated energycompensation based upon the difference between the actual energyconsumption and the expected energy consumption for each of theadjoining building units. The process 600 sends the calculated energyconsumption to the utility server at block 620 as described above andreturns to decision point 602 to await another indication to performenergy compensation activities.

Accordingly, the process 600 provides automated energy transfercalculation and compensation for adjoining building units. The automatedenergy transfer calculation and compensation is based upon measuredthermal energy transfer between adjoining building units, measuredactual energy consumption in each of the adjoining building units,de-rated insulation ratings based upon materials and age of insulation,and expected energy consumption in each of the adjoining building units.

As described above in association with FIGS. 1 through 6, the examplesystems and processes provide automated energy transfer calculation andcompensation for adjoining building units. Many other variations andadditional activities associated with automated energy transfercalculation and compensation are possible and all are considered withinthe scope of the present subject matter.

Those skilled in the art will recognize, upon consideration of the aboveteachings, that certain of the above exemplary embodiments are basedupon use of a programmed processor such as the CPU 300. However, theinvention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments, since otherembodiments could be implemented using hardware component equivalentssuch as special purpose hardware and/or dedicated processors. Similarly,general purpose computers, microprocessor based computers,micro-controllers, optical computers, analog computers, dedicatedprocessors, application specific circuits and/or dedicated hard wiredlogic may be used to construct alternative equivalent embodiments.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present inventionmay be embodied as a system, method or computer program product.Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirelyhardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (includingfirmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodimentcombining software and hardware aspects that may all generally bereferred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore,the present invention may take the form of a computer program productembodied in any tangible medium of expression having computer-usableprogram code embodied in the medium.

Any combination of one or more computer usable or computer readablemedium(s) may be utilized. The computer-usable or computer-readablemedium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic,optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus,device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustivelist) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: anelectrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computerdiskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flashmemory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory(CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a transmission media such as thosesupporting the Internet or an intranet, or a magnetic storage device.Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even bepaper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, asthe program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, opticalscanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, orotherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then storedin a computer memory. In the context of this document, a computer-usableor computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store,communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or inconnection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.The computer-usable medium may include a propagated data signal with thecomputer-usable program code embodied therewith, either in baseband oras part of a carrier wave. The computer usable program code may betransmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited towireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the presentinvention may be written in any combination of one or more programminglanguages, including an object oriented programming language such asJava, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer,partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partlyon the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely onthe remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remotecomputer may be connected to the user's computer through any type ofnetwork, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network(WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (forexample, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

The present invention has been described with reference to flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) andcomputer program products according to example embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable medium that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/actsspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible exampleimplementations of systems, methods and computer program productsaccording to various embodiments of the present invention. In thisregard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent amodule, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or moreexecutable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectlyto memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can includelocal memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulkstorage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at leastsome program code in order to reduce the number of times code must beretrieved from bulk storage during execution.

Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards,displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system eitherdirectly or through intervening I/O controllers.

Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the dataprocessing system to become coupled to other data processing systems orremote printers or storage devices through intervening private or publicnetworks. Modems, cable modems and Ethernet cards are just a few of thecurrently available types of network adapters.

Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modificationsto the preferred embodiments of the present invention. All suchimprovements and modifications are considered within the scope of theconcepts disclosed herein and the claims that follow.

1. A method comprising: measuring at least two temperature values of atleast two positions within a partition between adjoining building units,the at least two positions located at different distances from a surfaceof the partition within at least one of the adjoining building units;processing the at least two temperature values using at least one of alinear equation, a polynomial equation, and a gradient equation;extrapolating a thermal energy transfer from the processed at least twotemperature values; measuring actual energy consumption in each of theadjoining building units; and calculating, via a computer, an energycompensation for each of the adjoining building units based upon theextrapolated thermal energy transfer between the adjoining buildingunits and the measured actual energy consumption in each of theadjoining building units, where calculating the energy compensation foreach of the adjoining building units further comprises: determining anexpected energy consumption for each of the adjoining building unitsbased upon at least one of a volume of each of the adjoining buildingunits, historical thermostat setting information for each of theadjoining building units, historical energy consumption for each of theadjoining building units, and historical environmental temperature datain an area of the adjoining building units; calculating a difference inthe measured actual energy consumption for each of the adjoiningbuilding units relative to the expected energy consumption for each ofthe adjoining building units; adjusting the calculated energycompensation based upon the calculated difference; and sending theadjusted calculated energy compensation for each of the adjoiningbuilding units to a utility server for billing adjustment.
 2. The methodof claim 1, where measuring the at least two temperature values of atleast two positions within the partition between the adjoining buildingunits comprises receiving at least two thermal energy transfermeasurements from at least one thermal energy transfer measurementdevice.
 3. The method of claim 1, where measuring the actual energyconsumption in each of the adjoining building units comprises receivingan energy consumption measurement from an energy usage measurementdevice.
 4. The method of claim 1, where calculating the energycompensation for each of the adjoining building units comprises at leastone of adding the extrapolated thermal energy transfer to the measuredactual energy consumption and subtracting the extrapolated thermalenergy transfer from the measured actual energy consumption for each ofthe adjoining building units.
 5. The method of claim 1, wheredetermining the expected energy consumption for each of the adjoiningbuilding units further comprises: determining material properties of thepartition between the adjoining building units; determining an initialinsulation rating for the partition; adjusting the initial insulationrating for an age of the partition based upon the material properties ofthe partition; and adjusting the expected energy consumption based uponthe adjusted insulation rating.
 6. A system comprising: a memory adaptedto store information associated with energy consumption; and a processorprogrammed to: measure at least two temperature values of at least twopositions within a partition between adjoining building units, the atleast two positions located at different distances from a surface of thepartition within at least one of the adjoining building units; processthe at least two temperature values using at least one of a linearequation, a polynomial equation, and a gradient equation; extrapolate athermal energy transfer from the processed at least two temperaturevalues; measure actual energy consumption in each of the adjoiningbuilding units; and calculate an energy compensation for each of theadjoining building units based upon the extrapolated thermal energytransfer between the adjoining building units and the measured actualenergy consumption in each of the adjoining building units, where inbeing adapted to calculate the energy compensation for each of theadjoining building units, the processor is further programmed to:determine an expected energy consumption for each of the adjoiningbuilding units based upon at least one of a volume of each of theadjoining building units, historical thermostat setting information foreach of the adjoining building units, historical energy consumption foreach of the adjoining building units, and historical environmentaltemperature data in an area of the adjoining building units; calculate adifference in the measured actual energy consumption for each of theadjoining building units relative to the expected energy consumption foreach of the adjoining building units; adjust the calculated energycompensation based upon the calculated difference; and send the adjustedcalculated energy compensation for each of the adjoining building unitsto a utility server for billing adjustment.
 7. The system of claim 6,where in being programmed to measure the at least two temperature valuesof at least two positions within the partition between the adjoiningbuilding units, the processor is programmed to receive at least twothermal energy transfer measurements from at least one thermal energytransfer measurement device.
 8. The system of claim 6, where in beingprogrammed to measure the actual energy consumption in each of theadjoining building units, the processor is programmed to receive anenergy consumption measurement from an energy usage measurement device.9. The system of claim 6, where, in being programmed to calculate theenergy compensation for each of the adjoining building units, theprocessor is programmed to at least one of add the extrapolated thermalenergy transfer to the measured actual energy consumption and subtractthe extrapolated thermal energy transfer from the measured actual energyconsumption for each of the adjoining building units.
 10. The system ofclaim 6, where, in being programmed to determine the expected energyconsumption for each of the adjoining building units, the processor isfurther programmed to: determine material properties of the partitionbetween the adjoining building units; determine an initial insulationrating for the partition; adjust the initial insulation rating for anage of the partition based upon the material properties of thepartition; and adjust the expected energy consumption based upon theadjusted insulation rating.